Best VPN Outside 14 Eyes Alliance in 2026: Safest Picks

Online privacy is more important than ever, and just using a VPN is no guarantee that you’re safe from government surveillance. If your VPN is based in a country that’s part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, there’s always a chance your data could be shared across borders.

That’s why I put together this list of the best VPNs outside the 14 Eyes Alliance. So you can feel confident that you’re in control of your privacy online.

In a hurry? Here are 5 best VPNs outside 14 Eyes Countries

If you are looking for a Virtual Private Network that is outside the 14-Eyes intelligence alliance, here are the VPN companies on which you can depend:

Key takeaways

1. The 14 Eyes Alliance is a global intelligence-sharing pact that makes it risky to trust VPNs based in member countries.
2. Choosing a VPN outside the 14 Eyes countries adds an extra layer of protection against surveillance, data retention, and intelligence sharing.
3. The top 5 VPNs I recommend are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost, Proton VPN, and PureVPN, each excelling in different areas like speed, price, or features.
4. Always look for VPN providers with independently audited no-logs policies, strong encryption, and reliable leak protection to maximize your privacy online.

What is 14 Eyes Alliance? 

The 14 Eyes Alliance is a group of countries that share intelligence on matters of national security.

Its origins can be traced back to World War II, where a group of 5 countries agreed to intelligence sharing when in the interest of national security, long before the Internet existed.

It has now expanded to 14 Eyes countries, and the surveillance alliance includes internet surveillance and data collection. That means if you’re in one of these countries, your government might not only be monitoring your online activities but also passing that information along to its allies. It’s a real concern for anyone who takes their privacy seriously.

Why you should use VPNs outside 14 Eyes Alliance 

When I first learned about the 14 Eyes Alliance, it really opened my eyes to how widespread government surveillance actually is. These countries openly share intelligence, which means that if one government is collecting data on its citizens, that information can easily end up in the hands of multiple nations.

So, if you’re trusting a VPN to protect your privacy, it makes sense to go with one based outside of this alliance. It’ll give you that extra layer of assurance that your data isn’t sitting in a country with broad surveillance agreements, and it minimizes the risk of government data requests and mass surveillance leaks. It’s a smart way to gain an extra layer of control over your privacy.

5 best VPNs outside 14 Eyes Alliance 

Here’s everything you need to know about the 5 best VPNs outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, so you can find the one that best matches your needs and budget.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my go-to VPN for just about everything, including digital privacy. It’s ready to use from the get-go with just a click of the button, and its privacy and security features are top of the line, without compromising on speed or reliability.

Features: ExpressVPN focuses on simplicity, which means it doesn’t come with a ton of extras, but I find the ones it does offer really helpful like its ad and tracker blocking, password manager, and parental controls. You also get split tunneling, so you can hand-pick which apps you want to use with your VPN, and it offers obfuscation on every server, so it’s safe from deep packet inspection.

Speed: The connection speeds on ExpressVPN are incredibly fast, often under a second, and once you’re connected, Express holds on to 90% of its baseline speed on average, which is considered excellent for a VPN.

Privacy and security: With 23 independent audits under its belt, I know I can trust Express
VPN’s strict no-logs policy. It’s one of the most thoroughly scrutinized VPN providers in the industry. Plus, it uses all RAM-only servers, so your data gets wiped clean with every reboot, for extra privacy protection. Other security features include an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and AES 256-bit military-grade encryption.

Performance: The fast, stable connections you get with ExpressVPN work well for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and all your online activities.

Streaming: One of the main things I use my VPN for is accessing streaming libraries from other countries, and Express is incredibly reliable at this. It can unblock all the major streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more. Plus, it has servers in 3000+ servers in 105 countries, so you’ve got plenty of content to choose from.

Compatibility. You can connect up to 10 devices at once on the basic plan, and even more if you upgrade. The apps are easy to use and compatible with all common devices and operating systems, including Linux, Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS.

Pricing: Express is more affordable than ever with its new pricing options. Sign up for the 2-year basic plan and pay $2.49/month. You have 30 days to try it out, and if it’s not for you, cancel via the 24/7 live chat support and get a full refund.

2. NordVPN

When I want a super fast and reliable VPN service with extra features that let me customize my VPN connection, I use NordVPN.

Features: I love Nord’s advanced security features, like the Threat Protection Pro, which blocks ads, malware, and trackers even when my VPN connection is off. It also comes with specialty servers like double VPN, so you can route your traffic through 2 different VPN servers for an extra layer of protection, and Onion Over VPN, for easy access to the Tor network. Plus, it offers dark web monitoring, which is always on the lookout for data leaks. You also get split tunneling, so you can have some of your web traffic connected to your VPN, and others on your local internet service provider.

Speed: Nord is one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested, holding on to an average of 95% of its baseline speed when using its proprietary VPN protocol, NordLynx.

Privacy and security: Your private information will stay private with Nord’s independently audited no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, automatic kill switch, and military grade AES-256 bit encryption. And just like Express, it uses RAM-only servers, so none of your data is ever stored on a hard drive.

Performance: With Nord’s fast and stable connections, it’s a top performer for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and all of your online needs.

Streaming: If you’re looking for a VPN that will let you stream content from all over the world, Nord is a great choice. It’s got a solid track record for unblocking streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. And with a network of 7,800+ servers in 165 locations, you’ve got tons of content to choose from.

Compatibility: Nord works with all common devices and operating systems, including Linux, macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. You are allowed up to 10 simultaneous connections on a single account.

Pricing: You’ve got a few plans to choose from, with pricing starting at $3.39/month when you sign up for the 2-year basic plan. Each subscription includes 24/7 customer support and a month-long money-back guarantee.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a great VPN if you want a cheap and secure service based outside of the 14-eyes countries. It doesn’t come with a lot of fancy features, but it makes user privacy a priority, so you know you’re safe from global surveillance.

Features: CyberGhost comes with a content blocker to protect you from malicious ads and trackers, and split tunneling, so you can decide which apps you want to use with your VPN connection, leaving the rest on your regular internet service provider. It also offers specialty servers for streaming, gaming, and P2P file sharing. Add-ons include a dedicated IP address and a Security Suite for Windows, which includes anti-virus protection.

Speed: On local connections, CyberGhost had speed drops averaging around 5-10%, but it didn’t do as well on long-distance connections, where speed drops were more variable. For the best connection speeds, stick with the WireGuard protocol and local servers, and ask the 24/7 live chat support to find you the fastest server in the region you want.

Privacy and security: I’m really impressed with the high-end security features you get with this budget VPN. It comes with an independently audited, strict no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and military-grade encryption. It also uses RAM-only servers, so your data is wiped clean with every reboot.

Performance: You may run into some slowdowns when connected to long-distance servers, but the 24/7 live chat support can help you find a faster server in the region you want. And take advantage of the specialty servers, designed for optimal performance for streaming, gaming, or P2P file sharing.

Streaming: CyberGhost has a strong track record for bypassing geo-blocks on streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. It’s also got a large network of over 11,500 servers in 100 countries, so you’ll have no trouble finding a great show to watch!

Compatibility: The CyberGhost apps are intuitively designed and work with all common devices and operating systems, including Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows. Plus, you can connect up to 7 devices at the same time, which is plenty for most households.

Pricing: Sign up for 2 years of service, and you’ll pay just $2.19/month, and you’ve got a full 45 days to cancel and get a full refund.

4. Proton VPN

I don’t generally recommend free VPNs, but the free version of Proton VPN is one I trust. It’s limited in its features, but it’s still a great VPN when it comes to privacy and security. You can also upgrade to a paid plan if you’re looking for a more versatile VPN with advanced features, though it is a bit pricier than Express or Nord.

Features: The free version of Proton comes with strong security features, which I’ll detail later, unlimited data and bandwidth, and that’s about it. If you upgrade to a paid plan, you have access to Secure Core Servers, which pass your data through multiple servers for extra encryption, and Ad Blocking, which protects you from ads, malware, and trackers.

Speed: The speed on the free plan is good enough for casual internet users, but if you want a VPN for data-heavy tasks like streaming, gaming, or torrenting, you’ll want to upgrade to the paid plan, which offers much faster speeds.

Privacy and security: All Proton VPN users get the benefit of first-rate privacy and security features. It comes with an independently audited, strict no-logs policy and full disk encryption on all servers for data protection. You also get military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection.

Performance: The paid plan works well for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, while the free tier works best for tasks that require less data, like browsing.

Streaming: Paid subscribers can access geo-restricted content on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and have over 13,000 servers in more than 120 countries to choose from. When it comes to the free plan, it’s not as effective at unblocking content, there are just five countries available, and you can’t manually select the one you want.

Compatibility: The Proton VPN apps are compatible with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux, and work with all major devices. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously on the paid plans, while the free plan allows for one device at a time.

Pricing: If you decide to upgrade, pricing begins at $4.49/month for a 2-year plan, which is a bit more than Express or Nord. All of their subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. PureVPN

For my fifth pick, I went with PureVPN, since it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, has a solid audited no-logs policy, and offers a huge server network that makes it a dependable choice outside the 14 Eyes alliance.

Features: You get plenty of extras with PureVPN, like Tracker Blocker, Dark Web Monitoring, which alerts you if your personal data appears on the dark web, Remove My Data, which sends automated requests to data brokers to remove your data, and a Password Manager. Add-on options include dedicated IPs, port forwarding, and rotating IPs.

Speed: On local servers, you can expect fast speeds, with speed drops averaging around just 10%. On long-distance connections, PureVPN doesn’t hold up as well, with some drops as low as 40%.

Privacy and security: ProtonVPN shines when it comes to security. It has an independently audited, strict no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and military-grade encryption. It uses full disk encryption to protect any stored data.

Performance: While you may need to experiment with different servers for the best speed, especially on long-distance connections, ProtonVPN supports streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Streaming: You can enjoy watching worldwide content on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming platforms. With over 13,600 servers across 122 countries, you’ve got access to lots of streaming libraries.

Compatibility: The apps are compatible with all major devices and operating systems, with the recent addition of an Apple TV app. You can connect up to 10 devices at once on a single account.

Pricing: PureVPN costs just $2.14/month for the 2-year standard plan, which comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support.

How we picked and analyzed the best VPNs outside 14 Eyes

Our team of experts analyzed dozens of the top VPNs and chose the best VPN providers outside the 14 Eyes alliance based on the following criteria:

• Privacy and security. All of our recommended VPN providers have an independently audited no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, military-grade encryption, and strong leak protection. They are all headquartered outside of the 14 Eyes countries.
• Speed. We gave preference to VPN services that keep speed drops to a minimum, preferably 10% or less.
• Performance. We tried out the VPN service for data-heavy activities like streaming, gaming, and torrenting to be sure they offered smooth and uninterrupted service for all your online needs.
• Compatibility. We selected VPNs that have intuitively designed apps that are compatible with all common devices and operating systems.
• Customer support. We prioritized VPNs that come with 24/7 customer support and a money-back guarantee.

Do VPNs really protect against mass surveillance?

The best VPNs go a long way in protecting you from surveillance by encrypting your internet traffic, hiding your IP address, and making it nearly impossible for government authorities or your ISP to track what you are doing. They also don’t store your data, so even if the VPN company gets a subpoena, they won’t have any data to share.

How to escape 14 Eyes monitoring?

Here’s how to avoid surveillance from 14 Eyes countries and remain anonymous online:

• Use a premium VPN. Stick with VPNs headquartered outside the 14-eyes alliance with strong security features and a zero-log policy to avoid online surveillance.
• Use obfuscated servers. Turn on obfuscation in your VPN settings. The feature makes your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic and protects you from deep packet inspection.
• Use a secure browser. Browsers like DuckDuckGo or Brave are designed for privacy. You can also connect to the Tor Network, a decentralized, encrypted network for anonymous browsing.
• Use an anti-virus. This will give you the most up-to-date protection against malware and spyware.
• Use secure communication. Apps such as Telegram, Signal, and Proton Mail are all encrypted and designed to protect against surveillance.

How to use a VPN in a 14 Eyes country

Connecting to a VPN in a 14 Eyes country doesn’t guarantee your privacy. Some VPN providers keep logs, and if they get a subpoena from the courts, they are required to hand over any data they have to the government.

But here’s the thing. If you stick with a VPN service that comes with an independently verified no-logs policy, then you don’t have much to worry about, since they won’t have any data to hand over in the first place.

Surfshark, for example, is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 14 Eyes alliance, but its no-logs policy was independently audited by Deloitte as recently as June 2025, so you can feel confident that your privacy is secured.

So, overall, if you are going to use a VPN provider based in a 14 Eyes country, it’s important to check out their privacy policy, and don’t just take their word for it. Make sure any no-logs policy has been independently verified by a trusted outside source.

FAQ

Which countries constitute the 14 Eyes?

The 14 Eyes countries are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Is NordVPN outside of 14 Eyes?

Yes. NordVPN is based in Panama, a country outside of the 14 Eyes Alliance and without mandatory data retention laws.

Is Proton VPN part of 14 Eyes?

No. ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which is known for its strong privacy laws. It is not part of the 14 Eyes.

Is Surfshark part of 14 Eyes?

Yes. Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is part of the 14 Eyes. It does have a strong and independently audited no-logs policy, which means even if there is a government request for your data, they won’t have anything to hand over.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, not all VPNs are created equal, and where they’re based matters. By sticking with providers outside of the 14 Eyes Alliance, you’re giving yourself an extra layer of protection against data sharing and surveillance. For me, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost, Proton VPN, and PureVPN are the top choices worth considering to help you take back a little more control over your privacy online.